Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Learning to Love God by Loving Others

Home
Progressive Christian
Grace or Sacrifice?

Grace or Sacrifice?

Last updated on: February 23, 2021 at 7:19 am by Susan E. Brooks

Grace or Sacrifice? 2021-02-23T07:19:55-05:00 Susan E. Brooks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

African Woman

Do we need more grace or more sacrifice? Church members brought animal sacrifices in Mozambique. Artwork by Susan E. Brooks

“Lots of people in the churches around here are offering animal sacrifices,” a lady in one of our Bible studies shared.

Animal Sacrifices in Mozambique

Out in the villages of Mozambique, illiteracy was a problem, and preachers had too much power over their members. I suppose if you only read parts of the Old Testament, you might think animal sacrifice was required. The lay people were trying to do something based on scripture, trying to please God.

Unfortunately, church leaders in Mozambique were abusing the Old Testament system of making animal sacrifices. They wanted some grilled chicken to go along with their homemade fries! Ministers were taking advantage of their congregants, telling them to bring a chicken to pay for their sins. In a country listed as the third poorest country in the world, this was egregious.

With the ladies in the Bible study, we read Hebrews 9 and 10, about the “once for all” voluntary sacrifice of Jesus for us (Heb. 9:11-14). He took care of everything.

Sacrifice in the American Church

At first blush, we in the American church might feel superior to my Mozambican friends. We don’t require animal sacrifices. We don’t shame people into giving of their resources to make up for their sins—or do we?

Maybe it’s just me, but as a working mom, I often felt shamed at church. I felt my church expected me to volunteer every night of the week. I just couldn’t. When would I spend time with my kids after working all day? When was I supposed to cook supper, do laundry, grade all of the papers I had carried home—forget rest, relax or have a minute to myself. And don’t even think about having time to meet anyone who might be outside of the church.

And I was supposed to teach the Mozambicans a better way.

The Galatian Heresy

In the United States, you don’t have to offer chickens as sacrifices for the church. Instead, you must offer your time with your children, any spare resources you might have, your money, your rest, extended family—those are the sacrifices God requires of you. If you don’t give enough, then you should feel guilty, and you might not be “saved” if you haven’t done all of the right things. Great news, isn’t it? Another name for that is the Galatian heresy.

In the letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul explained that faith in Jesus Christ is enough. That’s it. Nothing more needed. Period. Some of our churches require more. Jesus plus live this way. Jesus plus don’t do that. Nope. Just Jesus. He’s more than enough.

Grace or Sacrifice?

I love the church, and I love my country. While I was in Mozambique, just the mention of the Fourth of July brought tears to my eyes and a prayer of thanksgiving to my lips. I am so thankful I was born in the United States. But before we think we have it all together, and we’re ready to go straighten out the rest of the world, maybe we need to figure out the grace of God. I’m still trying to figure it out, but I think it has more to do with loving people as they are than making them feel guilty about not doing enough. “Never enough” is the voice too many of us hear in our heads, and that voice is not the voice of God. Do we need more grace or more sacrifice?

I’m an artist who loves to write. If you’d like to get to know me better, please follow me on social media.

My Blog: susanebrooks.com

Instagram @sebrooks81 (Mostly Art)

Facebook, Susan E. Brooks, Artist,

Twitter @sebrooks81

YouTube Susan E. Brooks, Artist

Art

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

Previous Post

February 18, 2021

The Art of Unity: Peacemaking Through Painting

Next Post

February 27, 2021 Jesus Was a Refugee: Two Nighttime Flights

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Discipleship dreams and Goals emotional health Following Jesus General Christian Topics God's Love Grace Hearing God identity in Christ Marriage prayer Raising Children Relationships and family sacrificial love Social Justice spiritual focus spiritual growth Trusting God Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz